HALIFAX -- Conservative Leader Stephen Harper's call for an immediate general election caught some in his own party offguard at a national caucus meeting Wednesday.
Harper had said on the eve of the meeting that he was confident of his party's electoral strength, despite several polls that indicate Prime Minister Paul Martin and the Liberals are edging towards majority support.
But most of his fellow MPs spoke merely of the need to be ready to hit the hustings, while few displayed any zeal to do battle with Liberals while they're flying high in public opinion polls.
"It's not a question of looking forward to an election, we have to be prepared for an election and I think we are very prepared," said Opposition House Leader Jay Hill.
Conservative foreign affairs critic Stockwell Day said he expected the Liberals to trigger an early election through the use of a budgetary non-confidence motion.
